****It's No Party, You Can Cry If YOU Want To****

It is always enjoyable to see people in small towns pull together for a cause. I have lived in small towns most of my life. I have known so many people that see a need and step-up to help before anyone asks for a hand. Caring people volunteering at churches, schools, service clubs or those just quietly helping family and friends are the backbone of our communities. They recognize a need and their real reward is in knowing they have helped people.

The recent Fall Fest in Cheboygan was a little different cause. It was great to see a large group of volunteers, many that we recognize as already making things happen, working together for the better part of a year to organize a wide range of events for one weekend. The diversity of activities must have challenged attendees to prioritize and ask; where do we go or what do we do next? Parties, celebrations, and special events are always gratifying to those who plan and organize them. When they are as successful as Cheboygan’s first annual Fall Festival, it is a source of pride while promoting the community. I congratulate all of the individuals who got creative, gave of their time, and pulled off a festival with events that far exceeded the rote mentality to just do something downtown and then have a beer tent.

If this first Fall Fest was Cheboygan’s pre-game tailgate party and award winning Cheerleading Team rolled into one, then our local governments must be the 0 and 16 home team we reluctantly support. There is no route to a winning season for Cheboygan when our local governments cannot provide the basic infrastructure business needs. Government is not fun and games. It is not parties and festivals. Many of these same local companies, sponsors, and individuals that successfully pulled off a winning Fall Fest weekend have lobbied, petitioned, and even pleaded to Inverness Township, the City of Cheboygan, and the Cheboygan County Commissioners to provide the public infrastructure that should be a priority for these local leaders.

I said leaders and the word reeks of sarcasm. The most basic of government responsibilities is government fulfilling the essential needs of the citizens who pay their salaries. It is as simple as the rule of business. Businesses must provide a satisfactory service to us, or we go somewhere else. As Inverness Supervisor Ron Neuman famously said, we are only part-time elected officials. Many of our young people are working two part-time jobs and earning less each year than these officials sitting at a board table for only 30 to 50 hours in an entire year while they do nothing. That has to change. I have moved when I disagreed with government. Our country’s founders moved across an ocean and then engineered an armed revolt to gain our freedom from King George. Our elected officials work for us or we can find new elected officials. If the Inverness Board cannot move to bring the infrastructure that a major development needs, move them out and move a more responsible body of Inverness Township elected officials in.

Recall season is now open. Officials serving a term of office for more than two Years: Recall petition shall not be filed during the first and last year of the term of office. MCL 168.951(1). An inability or refusal to reach a compromise deal on either a 425 Agreement or a Utility Service Agreement after more than two years is a good and valid reason for a recall. It has become an inexcusable delay when there have been so many options on the table. 

     ALPENA MEIJER SUPERCENTER

                                  April 30, 2015               270 Alpena Jobs

ALPENA, Mich. — A new Meijer 190,000-square-foot supercenter with gas station opened April 30, in Alpena. Meijer supercenters feature groceries, general merchandise, full-service pharmacy with drive-thru and lawn and garden center.

Meijer employs about 270 people at the new store. Initial job openings have been filled, but applications are being accepted in the store and online

About 200 people attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony, during which Meijer officials presented a $30,000 check to Alpena High School and a $25,000 check to the Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary.

Give these non-performers more spare time. Cast them out and vote someone in willing to serve the majority and best interest of Inverness Township. Several hundred thousand of dollars in new property taxes are already lost and the region has lost hundreds of jobs that may be gone forever. It’s your party and there is no reason to cry. Man up Inverness voters; start a recall petition. Some people are only motivated when the boss threatens to fire them. See if the Inverness Township Board will move forward as the heat of a recall petition and election nips at their heels.